Sports marketing agency IMX has been "appointed to manage the marketing of hospitality and VIP areas at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre, Brazil," according to SOCCEREX. IMX, a "50/50 joint venture" between IMG Worldwide and "Brazilian billionaire Eike Batista’s EBX Group, will be responsible for selling a sector of the stadium known as the Beira-Rio Premier Club, which includes 70 suites, 55 skyboxes and 5,050 premium seats." The news comes with the 51,300-capacity venue "currently being upgraded" ahead of next year’s World Cup. IMX, which currently controls "hospitality sales at Rio’s Maracana stadium and the Pernambuco Arena, has assigned two IMG executives, Diarmuid Crowley and Tom McCann, to manage efforts in Porto Alegre" (SOCCEREX, 12/4).